The last surviving members of two of the most prominent ninja clans have decided that they won’t be taking on any protégés. This means that we’ll soon see the last ninjas pass away. Mariko Oi had the opportunity to sit with them and discuss their fading art. Highlights include:

Ninja missions were so secret that there are few official documents that detail their adventures. Instead their methods were passed from one generation to the next through word of mouth.

Ninjas rarely fought. Their tactics were focused on surveillance and espionage. Actual fights were a last resort and were looked down upon.

They used bamboo water floats that allowed them to cross bodies of water in a walking motion.

Instead of wearing pure black – which stands out in the night – ninjas preferred to dye their clothes a deep navy blue to better blend in with their surroundings

Being a Ninja was a part-time job. Ninjas spent most of their time at mundane day jobs such as farming.

Read other myths about Ninjas, what the last ninjas do with their free time, and “western ninja-inspired nonsense” over here.